Speaking to HuffPost UK, Spencer said her son, who wears a lot of tweed and “claims to be British” because he was conceived with a London fertility clinic, has “always been very funny” even as a young child.

Now, more than a decade later, he “finds the photo very amusing”.

Spencer added: “He says he remembers it, though he was only one in the picture so I don’t know if it’s true!”

The family taught the toddler ASL (American sign language) so he could communicate before he could talk.

Spencer said: “We taught him sign language because babies can sign before they can speak and it is very useful to be able to communicate with your baby.

“He was able to tell me when he was hungry, thirsty, sad, tired, or, obviously, when he needed help, from the time he was eight or nine months old.”

When other parents commented on the photograph asking why Spencer didn’t help, she simply responded #motheroftheyear.